Candy box cradle shaper and box feeder



Dec. 9, 1952 G. c. SPARKS 2,620,607

CANDLE BOX CRADLE SHAPER AND BOX FEEDER Filed Sept. 7, 1951 r I 2S!-lEETS-- SHEET 1 28 -7 21 /353&

' INVENTOR.

Dec. 9, 1952 G. c. SPARKS CANDLE BOX CRADLE SHAPER AND BOX FEEDER 2SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Sept 7 1951 I IIIHI II II INVEN TOR.

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Patented Dec. 9, 1952 QFFICE CANDY Box CRADLE SHAPER AND BOX FEE DER

George C. Sparks, Chadds Ford, Pa.

Application September '7, 1951, Serial No. 245,583

7 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful candy box cradle shaper and boxfeeder and has for one of its objects to produce a semi-automaticapparatus to deliver the uppermost one of a column of nested boxes to alocation adjacent a shaper which turns up the ends of a supportingcradle about an article as such article is placed on the body panel ofthe cradle and forced downwardly to depress a portion of the shaper.

Another objectof the invention is to produce a device of. the kindmentioned including a hollow standard to receive and hold a column ofnested boxes for delivery at the top of said standard, step by step,each time the then upper one is removed, said step by step deliverybeing accomplished by a spring actuated ascending platform within thestandard, on which the column of boxes is mounted, and resilient stopfingers at the upper end of said standard to temporarily engage theupper edges of the sides of the uppermost box in the column of boxes.

Another object of this invention is to produce an apparatus of thecharacter herein set forth including the elements of a shaper or formerfor an article supporting cradle to be assembled in a box, the shaper orformer comprised of a shelf supported on a side of the hollow standardand carrying upright brackets on which are loosely pivoted parts of ahinge jointed seat, spring actuated in one direction to normally lie ina substantially horizontal plane and. capable of being manuallydepressed for folding a cradle about an article resting on a part ofsaid cradle which is imposed on said seat.

The apparatus is particularly adapted for use by .small candydistributors and especially those who pack limited quantities ofarticles, such as Easter eggs, at various holiday seasons. Therefore, afurther object of the present invention is to produce a device whichwill be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, strong and durable andhighly efficient in operation and which, when in use, will expedite thepacking operations and .reduce labor costs.

A still further object of this invention is to combine a box feedingmechanism cooperatively with a shaping mechanism for box inserts, whichcradle fragile articles when packed, whereby an operator can first causethe ends of a suitable cradle insert to be folded onto an article bydepressing a portion of the shaping mechanism through the medium of saidarticle, then inserting the article with its cradle in an adjacent boxand, finally, removing the box with its contents from the feedingmechanism by flexing the sides of said box, said feeding mechanismthereafter.

positioning another box for subsequent packing.

With the above and other objects in view this invention consists of thedetails of construction and combination of elements hereinafter setforth and then designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same I will describeits construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part here-- of, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a candy box cradle shaper and box feederconstructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the upper portion thereofshowing a cradle and an article, such as an Easter egg, in dotted lineson the shaper portionof the device.

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the shaper seat depressed with theends of the cradle folded over the ends of the article.

Fig. 4 also is a similar view of the upper part of the box feeder onlyshowing the cradle and the supported article as they are inserted in theuppermost box.

Fig. 5 is a vertical or longitudinal sectional view of the apparatusthrough the upright standard of the box feeder mechanism with theelevator platform and spring actuated reel in elevation and a loweredposition of said platform shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View on the line 6--6 ofFig. 7.

Fig. 8v is a fragmentary section on the line of Fig. '7. v

Fig. 9 is a plan view of one type of cradle prior to being folded.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another type of cradle partiallyfolded.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied l5 represents anysuitable base on which is mounted a hollow upright standard It having anopen upper end and a partially open front, the latter for easy access tothe interior of said standard throughout its entire height. Thisstandard esentially includes a back wall ll, side walls 18, at rightangles to said back wall, and inturned relatively narrow flanges l9projecting towards each other but spaced apart to provide the frontopening.

Within the standard is slidably mounted a platform 20 for ascent anddescent and said platform is prevented from tilting forwardly by apendant guide bracket 21 riding on the inside surface of the back wallH. The platform is normally urged upwardly and, therefore, elevated,under certain conditions, by means of an ordinary spring actuated windowsash lifter 22 including a casing 23 mounted on the exterior of the backwall I! of the standard and housing a spring actuated reel 2 which windsup a flexible strap 25, preferably of metal. the free end of whichprojects through an aperture 26 in said back wall I? and is fastened tothe platform 20.

On the platform within the hollow standard is mounted a column of nestedboxes; 2'! each ineluding a body with walls diverging from the lower endto the upper end, f-ol dable side flaps 28 and a foldable cover 29. Asthe column of boxes is elevated, the side flaps of the:boxesaapproacning the top of the standard are deflected inwardly, withrelation to a box structure, by the beveled lower ends of the deflectorplates 38 mounted on the inner'surfaces of the side walls: of thestandard at the upper ends thereof; The flaps .arethen retained in thedeflected positions by" the: prolonged holding surfaces of. the defies?tor plates, which extend to the extreme upper end of the standard;untilthe upperedges ofrsaid: flaps engage the bited of the hook portionsof the stop: fingers 3| secured tothe sidewalls ofthe standard. Thehook. portions of said step fingers-project aboveatheupper end ofthelstand:-

ard' whereby the side: flaps f the uppermostbox .7

of the column are exposed to be readily: grasped by an operator. Saidstop fingers; are formed; preferably, of. stifi'resilientl metal.

On the exterior of one sideof the. standard is a horizontal shelf 32which. may be braced by struts 33. brackets 34 are mounted on top: ofthe shelf 325.. These supporting brackets 34 are of identical.construction and are U'-shaped in horizontal cross section providingparallel sides. and aback.

towards the outer ends of their'respective end leaves.

An axle 41 isprojected through the sides ofeach vertical bracket 34 andthe slots 46in the legs 39 of the associated end leaf of the hinged rest35 thereby pivotally connecting the ends of said hinged rest to thevertical brackets with the center leaf 3? suspended and capable of beingprojected downwardly betweensaid brackets.

The rest 36 is normally maintained in a substantially horizontal plane,although the end leaves may be tilted as shown in Fig- 6,. by a spring42 which urges the: center leaf 3;? ups wardly or outwardly. Forpurposesof illustration, the spring is shown as encircling a rod 43;.

A pair of. opposed spaced upright;

secured to the underside of the center; leaf and" V type of cradleincludes a web 47 with end wings 48 defined by weakened fold lines 49.The end wings 48 are provided with perpendicular end and side flanges52] and 5|, respectively to space the end wings from contiguous walls ofthe box in which the cradle is assembled. Also each of said end wingshas an aperture 52 to receive the ends of an article mounted on the Webof the cradle.

The other type of cradle 48a depicted in Fig. 9 includes a web 47a withend wings 48a defined by the weakened fold lines 49a and having sideflanges cm, which are foldable perpendicular to their respective endwings which latter also have apertures 52a to receive the ends of anarticle to be'packed.

When the cradle, as 46, is placed on the shaper rest 36, the web 47 andthe end wings 43 are superimposed upon the center leaf 37 and the endleaves 38, respectively, with the apertures 52 in said'end wings 'inlinewith openings 53, one provided. in, each leaf so; thatasthecradl'ewingsand: the end, leaves: of the. rest. are: folded toemI-- brace therends -of' an article 54', Figs. 2; 3iand'4',

said ends. of: the article may project through theleaf opening; to.-prevent damage to ormarri'ng of said article, especiallytheendsithereof.

In,actual.practice a number of the boxesi'l are nestedand inserted: in.thetop of the hollow standardiin' columnarxarrangement with thebottonrof the. lowermostrboxrestingi on the elevator platform; 20;. Inorder to: 116511 17118 boxesthe-fold'- able. covers: are turned backwhich leaves the upper endsiofisaid :boxes...open;.. The platform 20' isthen; propelledidownwardly againstthe action of the springactuated; reel2,4lu-ntilrthe sid'eflaps N of the uppermost box in: the column pass thehook. portions; of the stop. fingers 31 The plat form' 2631s,. then;released: and: the :spring reelswillelevate saidj platformuntil-thefiapsoflt-he uppers most box enter the. bites of said stopfingers atends: of the. article: and support; the latter: out of contactwith the sides:, -ends,z top and 'bott'om of the. boxf To expeditethetpacking operations a cradle. is, impcsednporr theshaping. rest 3 6;Fig. 2; with the; web. and; wings: of said cradle substantially fiat.while the. flanges thereof projectover' the. side edges-and; in someinstancesgtheouter end edges of the rest. An article 54 next placed-.011the'vfiat cradle, centrally: thereof; and pushed downwardly: todepress-the center leaf of the. shaping rest against theactionofthe-spring 42, This function will cause the end leaves of said shapingrest torotate inwardly and move downwardly, because of the looseorslidablepivotal connection of said end leaves withtheirtre-' spectiveaxles, to foldthe end wings of thecradle over the ends of the-article,asshown in Fig: 3'.

The cradle, with the article therein; isthenlifted'from the-shapingrest, which will return to its normal position as pressurethereon isre-- lieved, due to expansion of the spring; andsaid cradle and articleare. inserted in the uppermost box within the standard, Fig; 4; Finally,the side flaps- 28 of said uppermost box are--disenaged from thestopfingers 31- by: flex-ing" or:

folding said flaps inwardly towards each other and; if necessary,simultaneously depressing the column of boxes. This will release theuppermost. box so that it. can be withdrawnfrom the column of boxes andremoved from the hollow standard. As said uppermost box is removed, thecolumn of boxes will be elevated, by the action of the spring reel onthe platform 20, until the side flaps of the succeeding box engage thestop fingers. These operations continue in proper sequence until all ofthe articles are packed.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have produced anexceedingly simple, inexpensive, strong and durable portable apparatusfor feeding boxes and shaping supporting cradles about articles to bepacked in the boxes thus adapting it to use by concerns which pack smallamounts of goods and certain periods in contradistinction to those thatpack large quantities substantially continuously. When not in use thisapparatus can be stored in any convenient locality.

, Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details ofconstruction herein shown and described as these may be varied withinthe scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and useful is:

1. A candy box cradle shaper and box feeder comprising a hollow uprightstandard open at the top, a platform in said standard to support acolumn of nested boxes, the upper edges of which are capable of beingflexed inwardly, spring actuated mechanism to urge said platformupwardly for elevating the boxes, stop fingers to be engaged by edges ofthe uppermost box in the column to temporarily arrest the .upwardmovements of the boxes and platform, the uppermost box being disengagedfrom the fingers for removal from the column by flexing portions of saiduppermost box and the removal thereof causing the column of boxes tomove upwardly until the edges of the succeeding box engage said fingers,a shelf on one side of the standard adjacent the upper end thereof, andan article supporting cradle shaper on said shelf, said shaperconsisting of two spaced upright brackets secured to the top of saidshelf, a three-piece hinged rest having the end pieces loosely pivotallyconnected to the brackets with the center piece capable of depressionbetween said brackets to swingingly move the end pieces generallyinwardly for folding apertured end leaves of a cradle over the ends ofan article resting on a central web of the cradle prior to insertion inthe uppermost box of the column of boxes, the depression of the centerpiece of the rest being accomplished through pressure applied to thearticle, and a spring to retract the rest.

2. The structure according to claim 1 in combination with deflectorplates on opposite sides of the interior of the standard at the upperend thereof, the lower edges of said deflector plates being beveled.

3. A portable candy box cradle shaper and box feeder comprising a base,a hollow upright standard open at the top and provided with an openingin the front from top to bottom thereof and of less width than saidfront, a platform mounted in said standard for vertical movements, aspring actuated reel mounted on the exterior of the back of the standardand functioning to wind up a metal strap passing through an opening insaid back and attached to said platform for constantly urging the latterupwardly, deflector plates having beveled lower ends and mounted onopposite sides of the interior of the standard at the upper end of thelatter, stop fingers secured to opposite sides of the standard andhaving inturned hook portions located above the upper end of saiddeflector plates, a shelf on the exterior of one side of the standardadjacent the upper end thereof, spaced opposed brackets projectingupwardly from the shelf, end pieces of a folding rest pivotally andslidably connected to said brackets, a center piece of the folding resthingedly connected to both of the end pieces and adapted to be depressedfor swinging the end pieces inwardly, said end pieces having openings toaccommodate the ends of an article as the center piece is depressed andsaid end pieces are swung inwardly, and means to urge the center pieceupwardly and thereby swing the end pieces outwardly.

4. In a device of the kind described, a hollow upright standard mountedon a base and open at the top as well as partially open in the frontentire height thereof, a platform slidable vertically within saidstandard to support a column of nested boxes having flexible upperedges, a spring actuated mechanism to urge said platform upwardly forelevating the boxes, deflector plates in the standard at the upper endthereof to center the boxes during the final upward movement thereof,stop fingers secured to opposite sides of the standard and havinginturned hook portions located above the upper end of said standard inline with the exposed faces of said deflector plates to engage the upperedges of a succeeding box as the sides of the preceding box are flexedto disengage them from the stop fingers and said preceding box isremoved, and means on a side of the standard adjacent the upper endthereof for folding an article supporting cradle to be inserted in saidpreceding box prior to removal from the standard.

5. The structure according to claim 4, in combination with a pendantguide bracket secured to the underside of the platform and engaging awall of the standard to prevent forward tilting of said platform.

6. In a device of the character described, a standard through whichboxes are fed step by step each time an uppermost one is removed, ashelf on the exterior of one side adjacent the upper end of saidstandard, two upright brackets in spaced relation on top of said shelf,a sleeve midway between said brackets and projecting through the shelf,a jointed rest comprised of a center leaf and end leaves hinged to saidcenter leaf at opposite ends thereof, said leaves having legsperpendicular thereto with slots angular to the planes of said endleaves, means passing through the upright brackets and said slots topivotally and slidably mount the end leaves of the rest whereby said endleaves may be swung inwardly as the center leaf is depressed, a rodsecured to the underside of said center leaf and slidably mounted insaid sleeve, and a coil spring about the upper part of the rod betweenthe sleeve and center leaf of the rest to urge the latter upwardly forreturning said rest to a substantially horizontal position after eachdepression of the center leaf, the depression of said center leaf, whilea foldable cradle and article is disposed on the rest, folding the endsof the cradle upon the ends of the article.

'7. The structure of claim 6 wherein the end leaves of the rest haveopenings whereby apertured cradle ends may be projected over the ends ofthe article on the cradle.

GEORGE C. SPARKS.

No references cited.

